Novak Djokovic's controversial message over the Kosovo-Serbia tensions has been deemed inappropriate by France's Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera.
Following his first-round victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic, Djokovic wrote his obligatory message to fans on the camera lens, which read, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia, Stop the violence." Inevitably, the move has caused a decisive reaction, although the French Tennis Federation ruled out the possibility of handing a fine to the 35-year-old.
However, the latest figure to weigh in on the controversy was French Sports Minister Oudea-Castera. In an interview on French TV channel France 2, the political figurehead felt that the move was "not appropriate" for a sporting event, but she did back free expression by sports stars.
"When it comes to defending human rights and bringing people together around universal values, a sportsperson is free to do so,”
Tensions between Serbia and its neighbour have remained high ever since Kosovo gained independence in 2008 when it was officially recognised as a country by 101 of the 193 United Nations member-states. In addition, political decisiveness in the region has escalated in recent weeks due to ongoing elections.
After the act, Djokovic defended his message and believed it was his responsibility as a Serbian player to highlight the act of Kosovans being expelled from municipalities. Although, the 22-time Grand Slam winner also stated that it was not his position to get involved in political discussions.
The 2023 Australian Open winner is set to feature again at Roland Garros on Wednesday when he will face off against Hungarian opponent Marton Fucsovics in the second round.
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